Restaurant General Manager

About Echelon Wine Bar

Located in historic Shockoe Slip in downtown Richmond, Echelon Wine Bar is an independently owned, upscale restaurant featuring chef-driven cuisine, an extensive selection of wines from around the world, and an approachable, welcoming atmosphere.

Founded by the owners of Lost Creek Winery, Echelon offers an exciting combination of scratch-made cuisine, thoughtfully curated wines, wine education, and unique private dining experiences.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, energetic, and hands-on General Manager to lead our Richmond restaurant.

The ideal candidate is a hospitality professional who enjoys being on the floor, developing a great team, building relationships with guests, and taking ownership of restaurant operations.

Working closely with ownership and our Executive Chef, the General Manager will be responsible for delivering exceptional hospitality, managing operating costs, developing staff, and identifying opportunities to grow the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established restaurant manager or experienced Assistant General Manager ready to take the next step in their career.

Key Responsibilities

Restaurant Leadership & Guest Experience

• Oversee daily front-of-house operations and maintain high standards for service, hospitality, and presentation.
• Lead by example with an active presence on the restaurant floor.
• Build strong relationships with guests, regulars, and wine club members.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef to ensure smooth coordination between the dining room and kitchen.
• Maintain restaurant facilities, systems, and operational standards.

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage labor costs, scheduling, beverage inventory, purchasing, and controllable expenses.
• Review sales reports, cost trends, and financial results with ownership.
• Implement improvements that strengthen efficiency and restaurant profitability.
• Identify opportunities to increase sales, average guest checks, and repeat visits.
• Maintain accountability for operational performance and expense management.

Team Development

• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, coach, and develop front-of-house employees.
• Build a positive, respectful, and accountable workplace culture.
• Establish clear service standards and performance expectations.
• Support ongoing staff development in hospitality, wine knowledge, and sales.
• Address employee concerns professionally, consistently, and promptly.

Wine, Events & Business Development

• Support Echelon's extensive wine program, wine club, and educational experiences.
• Develop staff confidence in recommending and selling wine.
• Help drive private dining, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and restaurant buyouts.
• Collaborate on wine dinners, tastings, and special events.
• Support local marketing initiatives and community engagement.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 3 years of management experience in a full-service restaurant.
• Strong front-of-house leadership and guest service skills.
• Working knowledge of restaurant financial management, including labor costs, inventory, and cost controls.
• Experience with staff scheduling, training, hiring, and performance management.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with POS, reservation, and restaurant management systems.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Preferred

• Prior General Manager or Assistant General Manager experience.
• Experience in upscale casual, fine dining, or chef-driven restaurants.
• Interest in wine and food pairing.
• WSET, Certified Sommelier, or equivalent wine education.
• Experience with private dining and event coordination.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $65,000–$70,000 annually, based on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Employee discounts
• Wine education and professional development opportunities

Pay: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person